Tap for liquid dispensers



M w w M w Dec. 1- 1942.

J. BOOTH TAP FOR LIQUID DISPENSERS Filed March 1, 1941 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES", parent OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to beverage dispensing equipment and it has particular reference to improvements in a spigot for drawing beer and other beverages from containers.

The principal object of the invention is to" provide a spigot or tap for the purpose specified wherein provision is made for direct and uninterrupted passage of liquid from the container to the glass and by which is eliminated the objectionable characteristic of some spigots, requiring that a quantity of beverage remain therein after each draught, to be exposed to higher temperature. In dispensing beers, the beverage thus entrapped in the spigot or riser, due to its higher temperature, produces ebullience when followed by the beer of lower temperature, resulting in an excessive foam on the beverage and much waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in addition to the foregoing, further means to minimize ebullience in drawing beverages having a tendency the foam when exposed to increased temperatures, such means consisting of an insulated riser and a joint of material of extremely low heat conductivity providing the connection between the riser and spigot.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve lever by which the spigot or tap is opened and closed whose peculiar construction enables the dispenser to optionally secure 3 the spigot in open position or to permitthe same to close automatically after each draught, which is its normal function.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the spigot and riser embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the spigot per se on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view taken on line 33 on Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 44 on Figure 1.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 in which the numeral I denotes the external shell of the riser which is composed preferably of brass and through which extends a brass tube II the lower end of which enters the container (not shown) to elevate the beverage therein to the spigot. The upper end of the tube II terminates in an elbow I2 of molded plastic, known to be low in conduction of heat. The connection between the tube I I and member I2 is suitably cemented to prevent leakage.

' The space between the inner walls of the shell II] and the tube II is filled with cork I 3 oran equivalent insulator in order to protect the heirerage elevated therein from external temperature influences, while the inherent characteristics of the material of the elbow I2 will maintain low temperature as the beverage flows through its passage I4 into the spigot I5 to be presently described.

The spigot I 5 is composed of a substantially cylindrical body having an axial bore I6 to conformably receive a cylindrical plunger II. The inner end of the plunger I1 is of such diameter as to insure a sliding fit in the bore I6 while a shoulder at intermediate the ends of the plunger reduces the diameter of the opposite end and defines an annular space I8 about the plunger to accommodate a spring I9, expanding between the shoulder a and shoulder 12 formed in the bore I6, to resist opening movement of the plunger valve. I

The plunger I! has an undercut end 0 which, in order to close the passage I4 of the member I 2, bears against the combination gasket and seat 20 which is of rubber or like material, lying in a recess in the body of the spigot. The spring I9, of course, maintains close relationship of the plunger with the seat. A flanged retaining ring 2| insures a tight connection between the elbow I2 and spigot body, with suitable clearance 22 at the joints to insure a tight connection at the gasket 20.

In order to minimize friction and agitation of the liquid during passage thereof through the spigot, the nozzle 23 is disposed in angular relation to the passage I4 of the elbow I2 and it is of particular importance to observe that there is no obstruction whatever in the passages of the riser, elbow or spigot to interfere with free passage of liquid when the plunger is retracted.

The arrangement for opening the spigot consists of a lever 24, pivoted at d to the bifurcated end 25 of the plunger H, at a point spaced from the lower end of the lever. By pivoting the lever, a cam action is eifected by. reason of the fact that the lower extremity of the lever will slidingly bear against the base of the guide slot e cut transversely in the end of the spigot body. By omitting the guide slot e, the lever 24 may be rotated 360 and still function to actuate the plunger I I, the slot being provided simply to normally retain the lever in a vertical position.

It is apparent in Figure 1 that the lever 24 is operative either forwardly or ,rearwardly to reciprocate the plunger [1 but when the lever 24 is tilted forwardly, as indicated by dotted lines, the lower extremity of the lever will move upward on the surface e to thereby displace the pivot point d in an outwardly direction, carrying with it the plunger ll against the resistance of spring IS. The plunger is thus moved off the seat 20 to permit the beverage to pass into the spigot and out through nozzle 23.

It is to be noted that the slot in the end of the plunger, in which the lever is pivoted, is of sufiicient depth to permit the lower end of the lever 24 to enter the same so that the latter, when moved over dead center, will be axially aligned with the plunger. When in such position, the parts are locked, with the plunger retracted until the lever is again manually lifted, whereupon the spring l9 resumes its function of returning the plunger to closed position.

The drawing shows the spigot and elbow as being constructed of plastic material, preferably transparent. In addition to the pleasing appearance of the fixture, highly effective heat insulation is assured and condensation of moisture on the external surface thereof is reduced to the very minimum or eliminated entirely.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A spigot for beverage dispensers comprising, in combination, a body bifurcated at one end, an axial bore therethrough opened to the bifurcated end of said body and having a shoulder adjacent its forward end, a liquid inlet communicating with one end of said bore, of a diameter materially less than that of said bore, a resilient washer surrounding and in fixed relation to said inlet, a liquid outlet nozzle whose passage is at an angle with respect to the axis of said bore and through which it communicates with said inlet, a plunger having an annular shoulder adjacent its inner end, said latter end being semi-spherical to engage said washerand close said inlet, said plunger further having a bifurcated end in alignment with that of said body, a lever partially lying in the bifurcated end of said body and pivoted adjacent one end to the bifurcated end of said plunger whereby a cam action is effected when said lever is actuated to reciprocate said plunger in opening and closing said liquid inlet and a coiled spring surrounding said plunger between its shoulder and that of said bore for resisting opening movement of said plunger.

JACK J. BOOTH. 

